Ever since the resignation of Park’s former superintendent, Astein Osei, questions have been going around as to who would fill his shoes for the time being. Those questions were finally answered on Oct. 24 as Park hired a new interim superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire.
Interim superintendent Dr. Kate Maguire said she has been passionate about public education.
“I said yes, because public education is deep inside my core and it’s hard to get out of your blood,” Maguire said. “When you’re a teacher it’s just hard to get out of your system.”
Principal LaNisha Paddock said Maguire is a helpful asset to Park. She said she thinks Maguire will help Park find itself.
“I believe that Dr. Maguire has been a really good addition to our school district,” Paddock said. ”Even though it is a short term time that she will be serving with us, there’s some needed figuring out who we are”
Assistant principal Alyssa Gardner said she believes that the role Maguire plays will do great things for Park, and that Maguire will come in with authority and leadership.
“She’s really just coming in to be a leader supporting the work that we’re doing, and providing that extra level of guidance,” Gardner said.
According to Maguire, her experience in the beginning of her being an interim superintendent made it a priority to be a part of Park. She said she looked over as much as she could to get a feel of Park.
“In those first few weeks, it was really a top priority for me to get to all of the buildings and to have a two hour period of time there,” Maguire said. “Meeting with the leadership team, walking the halls, getting a visual sense of our school’s physical facilities and meeting people everywhere I go.”
Paddock said she noticed the familiarization Maguire has with racial equity. Paddock said she believes that work will be pushed forward through Maguire’s time at Park.
“She has a lot of experience in some of the work we’re doing; anti-racist community and equity work,” Paddock said. “That’s always at the forefront and remains to be the direction that we are going to continue to go and help push forward our mission, vision and core values until that next person is hired and able to come in in July.”
Maguire said while she wasn’t familiar with the people in Park, she was very familiar with the environment.
“While I knew very few people in the Park community, I knew about the work that was occurring here,” Maguire said. “I know that you have a very strong and engaged community of families and supportive parents, but even beyond parents, a larger supportive community of the school and you have an amazing school board.”
